The Nigerian man is often described with a plethora of adjectives: bold, brash, funny, crafty, big-hearted, sexy, and loving. There's a general belief that Nigerian mothers tend to raise their daughters and spoil their sons. From the moment a son is born, he is often showered with attention by the female members of the family.
But what truly defines the quintessential Nigerian man? Let's delve into some key aspects of his character, style, and cultural influences.
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A Hardworking Hustler
Compared to his counterparts in the Diaspora, the Nigerian man is a natural hustler. Whether he's working at a bank in Victoria Island or selling watches in traffic, he works hard for his money. He doesn't sit idly by; he actively seeks opportunities to provide for himself and his family.
Playing Hard and Enjoying Life
All that hard work needs a reward, and the Nigerian man knows how to enjoy the fruits of his labor. He loves to groove, whether it's at a club or an open-air pepper soup joint. He enjoys himself and invites others to join in the fun.
Just drive through Lagos or any other major city in Nigeria to see the flashy cars, fancy homes, and vibrant nightlife. The Nigerian man, along with his woman, likes to enjoy the good things in life. He wants the flashiest car, the finest girl, and the biggest house. If he has the money, he flaunts it.
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A Lover of Women
That the Nigerian man loves women cannot be disputed. He is not limited by race, color, or hue. He pursues the woman he desires with the single-mindedness of a soldier on a special mission.
The "Sweet Mouth"
The Nigerian man is known for his charm and smooth talk. His ability to sweet-talk and flatter can be disarming, even when he's clearly lying.
There is no denying it...Nigerian men are fine. Is it the “yellow” ones from the East or the Caramel ones from the West? Or the dark chocolate from the North?
They were going on about how warm and hospitable the people were and the women among them (like true Americans!) said they wouldn’t mind getting married to Nigerians and would like to be hooked up! Well, a crazy colleague of mine decide to take on the role of match-maker and started asking for their likes, preferences etc. As they were giving it one by one amidst much laughter, one of them dropped the bombshell that she couldn’t cook.You could have heard a pin drop! The whole room went quiet.
Fashion and Style
The rich cultural diversity in Nigerian society has a huge influence on the Nigerian fashion world, with various ethnic groups showcasing their unique designs and customs even in the modern day. Although there have been a lot of changes in the Nigerian fashion world, there is still a retention of its unique beauty and originality.
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Nigerians usually dress casually because of the hot climate. However, both formal and traditional clothing are also worn. The Hausa wear Babaringa. The isiagu is a men's pullover shirt similar to a dashiki that is worn by many groups in Africa.
Traditional Yoruba dress uses textiles and fine beads (Iyun, Akun, Ikan, Segi, Opoto, Eri Eyin and others) to reflect social status and religious affiliation as well as personal identity and taste. The Edo also traditionally express their status and identity with beads, but also with raffia work, anklets, and bangles. Edo men traditionally wear coral beads of two kinds, ekan and ivie, with either suits or traditional robes.
Fashion in the 1960s was characterized by women dressing in both fitted and oversized attires as well as mini skirts and dresses with simple local hairstyles and Afros. While the men wore bright-coloured shirts in different patterns and marched with tight skinny pants. The 1980s had women wearing maxi skirts and men oversized suits with huge permed hair. The fashion trend started to experience a significant change in the 1990s with the influence of America with miniskirts, scousers and native boubous for women. Men also had a difference in the trouser fashion with narrower hems and loosely fitted around the hip and waist region.
Currently, Nigerian fashion continues to change and evolve with the incorporation of traditional fabrics and bold, colorful designs to make different styles.
Before independence, when Nigeria was still a colony of Britain, indigenous fashion traditions such as adire indigo dyeing came to be viewed negatively. In their place, Western garments became signs of power and elitism.
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As of October 2024, the apparel and footwear industry is worth approximately [insert value]. Shade Thomas (later Thomas-Fahm) became Nigeria's first widely recognized fashion designer. After studying fashion design in England in the 1950s, prior to Nigerian independence, she set up a shop at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos and a garment factory at the Yaba Industrial Estate.
Lisa Folawiyo uses traditional West African fabrics to produce modern tailored designs. She launched her label, Jewel by Lisa, in 2005. She also produces custom luxury prints and accessories, such as jewelry and purses. Omotoso Oluwabukunmi runs TWIF Clothing; the name is an acronym of The Way It Fits.
Table 1: Vertical Distance of Igbo Nigerian Adult Male Faces
| Measurement | Mean (mm) | Standard Deviation (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| N-Sn (Middle Face) | 55.00 | 5.5 |
| Sn-Mn (Lower Face) | 61.00 | 6.1 |
Figure 1: Facial Landmarks
Figure 2: Traditional Nigerian Attire
Figure 3: Nigerian Men in Agbada
The study was carried out on 120 subjects comprising adult males aged between 18 and 28 years. Table 1 shows the results of the vertical distance (N-Sn) and (Sn-Mn) of the Igbo Nigerian adult male in millimeters (mm). Table 2 shows vertical distance (N-Sn) and (Sn-Mn) of the Igbo Nigerian Adult male in percentage ratio (%).
Analysis of the right lateral view photograph of the subjects showed variations in the angles of Aesthetic triangle, which include; NF, NFc, NM and Mentocervical (MC) angles [Figure 6]. NFA was observed to be the largest angle with a mean value of 134° and the values ranging from 118° to 150°. This is followed by the NMA with a mean value of 126° and the values ranging from 115° to 140°. Next to NMA is the MCA whose values range from 90° to 110° and has a mean value of 99°.
Table 4 shows the comparison of mean values of vertical distances between adult Nigerians and Himanchali adults and North American adult males.
Photometric facial analysis has been documented by various authors. Photometric analysis offers some advantages in terms of human profile analysis. In this study, it was discovered that the middle face (N-Sn) was shorter than the lower face (Sn-Mn) i.e., 41.76% vs. Our studied population, however, has a shorter middle face compared to the other two.
The present study shows that the NFc angle of Igbo males were similar to that of the Urhobos and Itsekiri and different from those of the Himachali Indians and North Americans [Table 5]. The NFA was also similar to those of Himachali, Indians, Urhobos and Itsekiri but were strikingly different from those of North Americans.
Jain et al., stated that the NFc angle shows the degree of nose projection from the skin of the face in an individual. Since the NFc angle of the Igbo Nigerian adult male is 38.68° [Table 6], it shows that he has a projected nose bigger than that of the Himachali and North American, but smaller compared to those of the Urhobo and Itsekiri of Nigeria.
The NMA from the present study was found to be the least among the different populations [Table 5]. This result suggests that the Igbo Nigerian population had the least prominent chin.
Ethnic and racial differences in the facial structure is a well accepted fact. The results of this photographic documentation as used here is the most convenient and helpful method for facial analysis.
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